July 21 - Ballito Umhl

Discover ... a gem in the city
A Cape escape is always a treat. And even more so when you choose a city-chic hotel.
We’ve just spent a week in Cape Town
… and struggle to understand why
anyone would want to travel abroad
when there’s such an incredible
destination right here in our own
country. It’s a spot that – no matter
how many times you visit – simply
never gets stale.
The basics stay the same … ‘the
mountain’ (only ever said with that
iconic Capetonian drawl), the buzz
along the Camps Bay restaurant
strip, the icy sea only fools and
born-locals enjoy (then again, maybe
we should take a lesson from them
… a 15-minute cold-water swim
apparently has massive health
benefits – from increasing your
metabolism, helping with circulation,
relieving stress, enhancing your
mood, boosting your immune system
and helping you to sleep better).
But once you’ve done the 15 minutes
of hell in the cold water, the cable car,
tried tandem paragliding off Signal
Hill and Lion’s Head, and kayaked
along the coastline looking for
dolphins, there’s always something
new to discover and explore. And it’s
one of the only major cities – if not
the only city – in SA where staying
in the centre of town is not only safe
but also massively desirable. This is
why we booked into, and loved, The
Onyx Hotel.
This cosmopolitan blend of hotel
and residential accommodation sits
proudly on Heerengracht Street, Cape
Town’s oldest thoroughfare, and with
its bold, architectural features and
resemblance to the rare, striking black
sapphire, it’s a real gem … offering
a chic city on par with apartment
offerings around the globe but infused
with authentic South African vibrancy
and authenticity.
What’s there to love? What’s not to?
The rooms are large, spacious and
edgy … with everything you need
to make your stay as enjoyable as
possible. The location is spot on …
it’s on Cape Town’s Foreshore, so
right in the hub of the city’s dynamic
urban lifestyle. There are bright lights
and city vibes, great restaurants on
every corner and bustling bars. Not
that you have to leave the hotel to
find a place to play. The hotel’s YU
Restaurant and Bar on the 4th floor
mixes up Insta-ready cocktails – the
Africa Rising City of Gold cocktail with
its candyfloss and sexy molten gold
surface is particularly photogenic.
Sexy city living … a blend of hotel
and apartments to suit all lifestyles.
62 Get It • Ballito Umhlanga July 2021